Victorian landholders have voluntarily protected more than 70,000 hectares of wildlife habitat in the past 50 years through the conservation charity, Trust for Nature, which aims to provide sanctuary for at least 430 species of threatened animals and plants.
Since the organisation’s founding in 1972, Trust for Nature has established more than 1600 conservation covenants – legally binding agreements that permanently protect habitat on private land, even if the property is sold.
Hans Fankhanel was one of the first Victorians to protect his 87-hectare Otways property according to a conservation covenant in 1988.
“I was a bit ahead of my time,” Mr Fankhanel said. His land protects mountain ash forests, home to threatened species such as the carnivorous and nocturnal Otway black snail.
“I am very conscious of what happens after I’m gone; eventually, it will be sold, but having the covenant and knowing the Trust will ensure it is being adhered to is of great comfort,” Mr Fankhanel said.
Fiona Murdoch’s 450-hectare property, Raakajlim on Latji Latji Country in the state’s north-west, has been protected with a covenant since 2009.
“Being able to protect the property with a covenant means that the hard work we’ve done has the chance to continue beyond us. We can be sure that even if the property is sold, it will never be developed,” Ms Murdoch said
Fiona and her family have done extensive work to restore their property, which is home to the critically-endangered pink cockatoos and the endangered Mildura ogyris butterly.
In 2022, Trust for Nature celebrates its 50th anniversary of protecting habitat for Victoria’s wildlife.
Including the organisation’s conservation reserves and properties subsequently transferred to the Crown, Trust for Nature has protected more than 110,000 hectares in the last 50 years. The first conservation covenant was signed in 1985.
Andrew Foran, Trust for Nature acting chief executive, says the conservation outcomes that Trust for Nature has achieved are testament to the dedication of the Victorian community.
“We could not have achieved so much without the support of landholders, Traditional Owners, volunteers, donors and many partner organisations and the Victorian government,” Mr Foran said.
Among the threatened species protected by Trust for Nature are the critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum and plains-wanderer, both priority species under the Australian government’s new threatened species action plan.
“While national parks are very important, some species of animals and plants are highly dependent on habitat found on private land. The formation of Trust for Nature recognises how important protecting private land is for Victoria’s wildlife,” Mr Foran said.
At the first meeting of Trust for Nature in 1973, then-premier, Rupert Hamer, said he hoped the organisation would be able to buy back land “that should never have been alienated”.
As well as forming conservation covenants with landholders, Trust for Nature has also contributed more than 7000 hectares of habitat to the public reserve system, including parts of Mornington National Park, Churchill Island in Westernport Bay and the diverse Anglesea heathlands.
By 2025, Trust for Nature aims to protect another 35,000 hectares of habitat for wildlife.
